Planning decision could call time on pub

by Lisa Reeves

Wednesday 5^th July 2017

Wed 5^th Jul 2017

Plans to demolish a public house and replace it with a residential development will be determined by the Northern Planning Committee next week.

New Moor GB Ltd is proposing to replace The Riflemans Arms on Moor Lane with 8 dwellings, consisting of two blocks of 4 mews houses - which will be two storey with three bedrooms on the first floor and a master bedroom in the roof space. Each property will have two parking spaces, located in a small parking court to the rear, and a private garden.

Councillor Gary Barton requested that the application be determined by Northern Planning Committee stating "I believe that there is a public interest case to be heard as this application will result in the loss of a local asset. The application will also increase parking problems in the area as it will result in the loss of off-road parking spaces currently in use on the site."

Wilmslow Town Council recommend refusal of this application on the grounds of overdevelopment of the site and being out-of-keeping with the streetscene and that the proposed buildings will be overbearing on neighbouring properties due to their height.

The Council received 7 letters of objection on the grounds of: over-development of the site, overlooking of properties on Moorfield Drive, the properties are too high, development not in character with the surrounding area and off-street parking for existing residents will be lost.

The Planning Officer is recommending the application for approval at the Northern Planning Committee on Wednesday, 12th July.

Amongst the reasons he states are that it is a previously developed site located in a highly sustainable location; the scale of the development reflects the character and appearance of the area and the development raises no issues in respect of highway safety, residential amenity, flooding, noise, or ecology.

The plans can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 17/2236M.

Tags:: Moor Lane, Planning Applications, The Rifleman's Arms

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Roger Bagguley

Wednesday 5^th July 2017 at 7:55 am

The number of houses proposed here should be reduced. The master bedrooms in the roof will seriously take privacy from at least one house in Moorfield particularly if the trees are removed. The arborocultural report is not encouraging. With less houses a gesture to the local community would be to create some off road parking for neighbours who since time have been able to park on this site. Lack of off road parking is a major issue across the whole of Wilmslow that the NPB needs to address in all of their planning decisions. As it stands RoW is opposed to this application.

Fiona Doorbar

Wednesday 5^th July 2017 at 12:12 pm

There used to be a pub next door to my house. This fell into disrepair after closing and was eventually replaced with a row of houses very similar to the above proposal. I think this would an improvement on what is currently there

Andrew Tomlinson

Wednesday 5^th July 2017 at 12:47 pm

I live close by and if the owners of the pub wish to sell the building or develop it themselves for houses then that has to be accepted as its a residential area. I just think when I walk past how they're managing to fit 8 houses on the site. I presume they'll be the size of a shoe box which are just not suitable for families. If it got rejected due to overdevelopment then I could understand, but the site probably will look better as houses.

Wednesday 5^th July 2017 at 3:18 pm

If Fiona is talking Heyes Lane then I totally agree. Equally so Andrew is correct when he says an owner has a right to apply to replace a pub with houses. This site has been on the RoW radar since we carried out our audit of developable brown sites across Wilmslow. Thus we support development but it has to be appropriate to the site and the neighbourhood. Coming along soon will be an application to develop Yew Tree Farm opposite. Thus both sides of the road need to be considered together so to complement each other in an enhanced street scene.

Marilyn and Brian Connolly

Wednesday 5^th July 2017 at 3:48 pm

The traffic on Moor Lane is already far too heavy for the road and the number of vehicles this development will produce will only make matters worse. I know we need to build more houses, but this is not a suitable site for this proposed development.

David J Pearce

Wednesday 5^th July 2017 at 4:37 pm

I find it sad that this pub which has been there since the thirties seems about to disappear and the only concern seems to be the height and or size of the buildings to replace it. I'm with Hilaire Belloc on this: "When you have lost your inns, drown your empty selves, for you will have lost the last of England".

Deleted Account

Thursday 6^th July 2017 at 7:57 pm

Hmmm,

I suppose it could be worse.

Given that the site will come with an alcohol licence it could be a mini supermarket moving in with all the problems that will bring to residents ( increased customer through flow, noise, deliveries, waste bins, food smell etc)

Witness the plans by Lidl to demolish the members club Energie gym on Summerfields (quiet as mice) with a big new supermarket next to existing homes.

Push for sympathetic construction, trees and windows that don't deny residents of their amenity.

Good luck !

Anne Greenhalgh

Friday 7^th July 2017 at 1:38 am

Are the developers determined to turn our beautiful area into a concrete jungle? We have lost our local farms & some fine houses to development, what next? Building on the Carrs? I feel sorry for those people living in our area who will never enjoy the countryside as we did!
Please have sympathy for our area before it's all lost!

Ryan Dance

Saturday 8^th July 2017 at 8:41 pm

Anne. The place is an eye sore.
Leave it empty. Let the development rot. . What a joke ?

Sunday 9^th July 2017 at 7:50 am

Ryan , I am with you...the place is an eyesore. Yes , neighbours need to be considered but this is an ideal site for housing

Sunday 9^th July 2017 at 7:59 am

Housing? Are you serious? Would you live there? Completely unsuitable for housing.

Dave Cash

Sunday 9^th July 2017 at 12:50 pm

The Rifleman's is open and still operating as a pub - for now. Proposed Housing will enclose the current open aspect for Newlands Drive/Moor La junction IMO.

Sunday 9^th July 2017 at 7:40 pm

Hello Ryan Dance,

You feel that the Rifleman's site is unsuitable for housing?

Unless the Rifleman's has moved within the last 2 hours it IS in an established, pleasant but rather expensive residential area.

I am certain that local people and key workers who have been priced out of their home town would say yes to affordable housing here (or for that matter anywhere in Wilmslow for that...)

Monday 10^th July 2017 at 2:03 am

But what is 'affordable housing' for this locality?
My concern is that the proposed residential development is 'overbearing' for the location.

Monday 10^th July 2017 at 10:42 am

One to two bedroom two storey apartments with car space?

Local key workers are completely outpriced of the town.

It's a terrible shame.

Wonder why Ryan Dance thought the site was unsuitable for residential develioment. Odd comment that...

Heather Godfrey

Sunday 16^th July 2017 at 6:26 pm

Why can't they build new affordable housing (without rent) for the young. I have 2 single children so only one wage coming in who cannot afford to buy. They are now in their 30s and paying extortionate rent which costs them more than a mortgage would. In this area there is no chance. Is wilmslow Handforth and AE to become an area of old people. ? And what an eyesore those new retirement apartments are overlooking Chapel Lane Surgery!.

Amanda Williams

Thursday 20^th July 2017 at 11:47 am

I totally agree with Roger, Barry and Bob. I live behind YEW TREE FARM and 'Elan homes' want to encroach further than the boundary of the so called 'abattoir' and build 15 house (up to 5 bedrooms) on the lovely Green Belt fields. Moor Lane is changing and it's not for the better, all this building is closing down the openness of the area and this once beautiful area will be as Bob says 'an anonymous suburban road' full of more people, children and cars that the area can ill aford.